What Does It Mean To Be A Christian?

Contrary to popular belief, a Christian is not just a religious person or even a good person. A Christian isn’t even a person who believes in Jesus Christ. In order to know who is or is not a Christian, we should examine GOD’s Word for the definition.

A true Christian is a person who: realizes that he/she is a created being by a Creator (Genesis 1) and is created in His image (Genesis 1:27); understands that there is only One supreme Creator GOD (Deuteronomy 6:4; Psalm 100:3; Isaiah 42:8; 43:11; 44:6; 1Corinthians 8:6; 1Timothy 2:5); believes that the Bible is GOD’s inspired, inerrant and infallible Word for teaching, training, correcting, commanding, directing, disciplining, and guiding believers into mature spiritual growth (Psalm 12:6; 19:7; Proverbs 30:5; Matthew 5:18; 2Timothy 3:16-17); believes that GOD is the absolute moral standard by which all people should abide (Deuteronomy 27:10); recognizes that Jesus was the promised and prophesied Messiah/Christ (Deuteronomy 18:18; Psalm 16:10; 22; 34:20; 110:4; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11,52,53; Micah 5:2; Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 1:16; 16:15-17; 22:42; Mark 8:29-30; Luke 1:26-27; 2:4-7; 3:30; 9:20; Hebrews 6:20); believes that Jesus was miraculously born of the virgin Mary from the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 1:26-38) and was fully GOD yet fully man at the same time (John 1:1,14; 8:58; 10:30; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 2:17); understands through special revelation that GOD is the Trinity; believes that Jesus was the perfect Lamb who willingly sacrificed Himself and literally died on a cross for us in order to atone for everyone’s sins and save us from ourselves so that creation and Creator can once again be reunited (Isaiah 25:8; 53:5-12; John 1:29,36; 1Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 9:14,22,26-28; 10:14; 1Peter 1:18-21; Revelation 5:6; 7:17; 21:4); believes that Jesus conquered death and was resurrected three days later (Matthew 28:1-10; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20; 1Corinthians 15:4-8); recognizes that humans are incapable of securing salvation on their own because we are all dead in our sins apart from Christ (Genesis 6:5; Psalm 51:5; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:9-18,23-26; Ephesians 2:3) because we all inherited sin from Adam and Eve (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12); realizes that it is by grace we are saved through faith only and not by our works (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:4-9); believes that Jesus ascended into Heaven and will return at a time that no one knows (Matthew 24: 29-31,36-44; Mark 13:24-27,32-37; Luke 24:50-53; John 6:62; Acts 1:6-11; 2Thessalonians 1:5-10) to ultimately intervene for humanity and completely and permanently separate evildoers from the righteous into either Heaven or Hell; and believes that the same Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells within all believers, baptizing them into the body of Christ, brings conviction and enables alignment into GOD’s will, seals them for redemption, and grants them with spiritual gifts to be used in works of service to the great commission (John 14:16-17,26; 16:5-11; Romans 8:9-11; 1Corinthians 3:16; 12:7-11; Ephesians 1:13-14; 1Peter 4:10).

However, belief is only the beginning in a Christian’s walk of faith (James 2:19); in fact, faith will launch the Christian into action (Romans 2:13; James 1:22-25; 1John 2:4). A Christian is also to perpetuate a healthy habit of confessing his/her sins (Psalm 32:5; James 5:16; 1John 1:9), repent from sinning (Lamentations 3:40; Matthew 3:8; Luke 3:8; 15:7; John 5:14; 8:11; Acts 2:38; 3:19; 11:18; 17:30; 20:21; 26:20; Romans 2:4; Colossians 3:5-11; 2Peter 3:9), walk by faith (Mark 9:23; Luke 1:37; 2Corinthians 5:7; Galatians 5:16,25; Hebrews 11:6), live righteously (1Samuel 26:23; Psalm 1:6; 5:12; 25:9; 51:10; 106:3; 146:8; Proverbs 4:18; 12:28; 15:9; 21:21; Ezekiel 18:5,9; Micah 6:8; Zephaniah 2:3; Galatians 3:6; 1Timothy 6:11-12; 2Timothy 2:22; James 2:23; 4:10; 1Peter 5:6), and live out the great commandment (Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:29-31) while fulfilling the great commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20). A true Christian is “born again” (John 3:3,7; 1Peter 1:23) because that person is a new creation in Christ due to the “old” person passing away (2Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:21-24; Colossians 3:1-17). A Christian is no longer a slave to sin; he/she lives in the light of Truth and the Truth sets the person free (John 8:31-38; Romans 6:15-23). It is in this freedom of Truth that a Christian will live a life of love (1Corinthians 8:9; 13:1-8; Galatians 5:13; Ephesians 4:15-16; 1Peter 2:16). And this life of love will produce good fruit (Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:43-44; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 5:9); in fact, it is by love and its fruit that a person will be known as a disciple of Christ Jesus (John 13:34-35). To be a Christian, a person must truly know Christ (Matthew 16:13-17; John 8:19) and be a follower of Christ, with his/her heart, thoughts, speech, and actions as an accurate reflection of the words and actions of Jesus. If you truly know Christ, then Jesus will likewise claim to know you (Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 12:8-9). To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Christ; however, the cost of discipleship is your whole life in this lifetime (Matthew 16:24-26; Luke 9:23-26; John 15:13; Philippians 1:21).

So, are you a Christian? Shakespeare’s soliloquy from Hamlet questions if it is better to be dead or alive; however, we must first know the definition of life and death before deciding which one is best. Paul had been able to provide the right answer to Shakespeare’s question because he rightly understood the meaning of life and death (Philippians 1:21-25). For it is neither the first life or death here on Earth that truly matters but the second life or death that is to come (Revelation 20:11-15; 21:7-8). To be, or not to be, that is the question: should I live for myself and gain the whole world but forfeit myself, or should I give up my life yet truly live after death (Matthew 16:24-26)? Christ died for me; I’m going to live for Him — even if that means I should die for others so that they may acquire life. I am a Christian.

But why am I a Christian? Read my other article: “Why I Am A Christian“

Check out my book, Superhero University: The Ultimate Superhero Training Manual – on the surface, I teach how to be a real life superhero; however, the depth beyond the surface teaches how to be a dedicated disciple, a Christian who is completely committed to the great commission!